Sorrento residents invited to town hall meeting regarding reports of sex offender village

RELEASE DATE: September 29, 2011

SORRENTO — Residents of the Sorrento community are invited to attend a town hall meeting to discuss the recent concerns raised when a Tampa woman stated that she intends to establish a sex offender village in East Lake County. The meeting will take place on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Sorrento Elementary School located at 24605 Wallick Road.

“Although no formal request has been received by the county for this type of group housing, we want to ensure that this concept is not permitted to materialize now or in the future,” said County Commissioner Leslie Campione. “I am committed to doing everything possible to protect our residents from this threat.”

Commissioner Campione, along with Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders and Lake County School District Chairman Debbie Stivender, will be in attendance to discuss concerns that the community has, and what actions are being taken immediately, and in the future, to prevent the relocation and co-habitation of sexual offenders within Lake County.

According to state statute, sex offenders cannot live within 1,000 feet of any school, childcare facility, park or playground.

On Tuesday, the County Commission began the process of creating a county ordinance that would be more restrictive than the state ordinance by increasing the radius to 2,500 feet, which is expected to be adopted on Oct. 18. The County Attorney was directed to also draft an ordinance to add additional restrictions to address the group home concept.

For more information about the meeting, call the Board Office at (352) 343-9850.